Preventive Dental Procedures Flashcards
6 cards from real NDAEB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Preventive Dental Procedures flashcards as text
When applying dental sealants, what is the most critical factor that determines sealant retention on the tooth surface?
Answer: Complete isolation and dry field during application
Moisture contamination is the primary cause of sealant failure. The etched enamel surface must remain completely dry during sealant application for proper bonding and long-term retention.
Which type of toothbrush bristle is recommended by the Canadian Dental Association for most patients?
Answer: Soft or extra-soft bristles
The Canadian Dental Association recommends soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrushes for most patients, as they effectively remove plaque while minimizing the risk of gingival recession and enamel abrasion.
A patient asks about the difference between dental prophylaxis and scaling and root planing. What is the key distinction?
Answer: Prophylaxis is a preventive cleaning for healthy patients; scaling and root planing is a therapeutic procedure for periodontal disease
Dental prophylaxis is a preventive cleaning performed on patients with healthy periodontium or gingivitis, while scaling and root planing (SRP) is a therapeutic procedure to treat periodontal disease by removing calculus and diseased tissue from root surfaces.
What is the recommended concentration of sodium fluoride in professional fluoride varnish used in Canadian dental practice?
Answer: 5% (22,600 ppm F)
Professional fluoride varnish contains 5% sodium fluoride, delivering 22,600 ppm fluoride. This high concentration is safe because the varnish sets on the tooth surface and releases fluoride slowly over hours.
During patient education about interdental cleaning, when should the dental assistant recommend interdental brushes over traditional dental floss?
Answer: When the patient has open interdental spaces, dental implants, orthodontic appliances, or bridges
Interdental brushes are more effective than floss for patients with open embrasure spaces, around implants, under bridge pontics, and with orthodontic brackets, as they provide better surface contact in these situations.
What is the primary mechanism by which fluoride prevents dental caries?
Answer: It enhances remineralization by incorporating into the tooth structure as fluorapatite, which is more acid-resistant than hydroxyapatite
Fluoride's primary caries-preventive mechanism is enhancing remineralization. When fluoride is present during remineralization, it incorporates into the enamel crystal structure as fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid dissolution than the original hydroxyapatite.